Tim Walberg takes questions during Lenawee County coffee hour

Sunday

PALMYRA TWP. — From tariffs, to the border with Mexico, to guns in schools, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg took on a number of questions Saturday during a coffee hour in Lenawee County.

Held at Palmyra Township Hall with around 50 people in attendance, Walberg let his constituents know where he stands.

Attendees submitted questions on cards provided at the door. One asked about recent tariffs put in place by the U.S. against China, and those China has imposed in response against the U.S.

With tariffs, Walberg said he stands first with “free and fair trade.” He said he’s not a big fan of tariffs and he doesn’t want to see them in place too long where they would have a negative impact on jobs and agriculture.

However, Walberg said, he can support the tariffs if they are “short-term and targeted.”

He said if these new tariffs go on for too long then there should be plans in place to lend support to such industries as agriculture, if need be.

In response to a question about the recent decision to send National Guard troops to secure the border with Mexico, he said his main concern is in securing the borders.

So, he said, “I’m in support of whatever it takes to secure our borders.”

He said that’s one role of the National Guard, to secure the states. He said if the governors of those states are in agreement and if such departments as the U.S Department of Homeland Security are in agreement, then he views placing troops on the border as a suitable solution until a wall can be built.

Citing recent shootings, Walberg said he doesn’t want to see guns in school, but added he wants to see kids and teachers go home at safely at night. He said he has no trouble with those who follow the Second Amendment legally, but he does have concerns about criminals.

He said what he supports in the Omnibus Spending Bill of 2018 includes providing grant money to help train school authorities and law enforcement in how to identify problems and how to put in place plans to react to them; to put in place security systems such as a door buzzer system, video system or metal detectors; and provide training in how to respond to active shooters.

He said the bill was approved in a way to give schools their own decision, rather than imposing one on them.

He said above all he wants to see “kids in classrooms learning.”

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